Hearing assistive system with low power interface

ABSTRACT

An Interface provides for communication between a wireless communication device (WCD) and a hearing assistive device (HAD). In an exemplary embodiment the Interface includes a first short range communication module to receive a first short range communication protocol from a WCD and extract a desired audible signal and a second short range communication module to provide the audible signal to the HAD via a second short range communication protocol. The HAD may be provided with an RF module to receive a low power RF signal and provide a voice signal to the HAD user. The Interface allows the WCD device to be positioned a distance from the user&#39;s HAD, thereby decreasing interference at the HAD due to the operation of the WCD. The Interface also can be provided with a microphone to receive voice signals from the user and in turn provide them to the wireless communications device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and moreparticularly, to a wireless interface for managing communicationsbetween a wireless communications device and a hearing assistive device.

BACKGROUND

A Hearing Assistive Device (HAD), such as a hearing aid, is typicallyworn at the ear of a user and includes a microphone and a telecoil forreceiving audio input. In microphone mode, sound waves are received bythe microphone and converted into electrical energy, and the resultantelectrical signal is then amplified, processed, and output to the user.In telecoil mode, a telecoil is coupled to an inductive field of ahearing aid compatible device, such as a telephone, to receive audiosignals and the signals are amplified, processed, and output to theuser.

When using a Wireless Communications Device (WCD), such as a cellulartelephone, a HAD user typically places the WCD proximate the HAD inorder for the HAD microphone to receive sound emitted from the WCD'sspeaker. However, the close proximity of the WCD to the HAD may resultin unwanted interference as varying RF and magnetic fields associatedwith the WCD are detected and processed as electrical signals by theHAD. For example, RF interference may result when radio waves emitted bya cellular telephone are detected and demodulated by the HAD circuitry.Wireless devices that employ time division multiplexed modulationschemes may generate interference due to the on/off keying of theirmodulation envelopes. The pulsing transmissions of such devices mayproduce interference at the fundamental frequencies associated with thepulse rates, as well as at the associated harmonic frequencies acrossthe audible spectrum.

In addition to RF interference, wireless devices may also generatemagnetic interference when placed proximate a HAD. Cellular telephoneelectronics, such as backlighting, displays, keypads, battery leads andcircuit boards may generate pulsed magnetic fields. The resultantmagnetic field energy may be coupled with the HAD's wiring andinterconnections and result in interference.

Thus, when a WCD is placed proximate a HAD, such as the standard usageposition when the WCD's speaker is placed proximate the HAD, unwantedelectronic interference often results. Such interference can bediminished by moving the interfering device a distance away from theHAD. Generally speaking, the interference ratio experienced by a hearingaid user as a wireless device is pulled away from the hearing aid isgenerally represented by a squared relationship. For example, if awireless device is moved from a first distance x from a hearing aid to asecond distance 2x, then the interference generated at the distance 2xis ¼ that of the interference generated at the distance x. Thus, theinterference generated by a WCD may be greatly reduced by moving the WCDa distance from the HAD. Of course, a significant obstacle to movingsuch devices away from the HAD is the decreased ability of the HAD userto communicate with the WCD, such as the ability to receive audio outputfrom the WCD speaker or to provide speech to the WCD microphone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus, systems, and methods thatenable communications between a Hearing Assistive Device (HAD), such asa hearing aid, and a Wireless Communications Device (WCD), such as acellular telephone, while mitigating unwanted interference. Here a WCDcomprises any audio device equipped to receive and transmit, via a shortrange communication protocol, any distinguishable sound wave includingcell phones, audio file decoders such as but not limited to MP3 players,radios, televisions, computers, devices enabled with short rangetransmitters, and the like or parts thereof. In one exemplaryembodiment, a system is provided in which signals received at a WCD areprovided to a HAD via a Low Power RF Interface. In another embodiment,the Interface may also receive input from a HAD user, such as the user'sspeech, and provide associated voice signals to the WCD.

The system can include a Bluetooth-enabled Wireless CommunicationsDevice (BWCD), an RF-enabled Hearing Assistive Device (RHAD), and anInterface for providing communication between the BWCD and the RHAD. TheInterface can receive voice signals from the BWCD via a Bluetooth signaland provide the voice signals to the RHAD via a low power RF signal.This arrangement enables the BWCD to be moved a distance away from theRHAD to decrease potential interference at the RHAD, while stillallowing the RHAD user to communicate using the BWCD. For example, theRHAD user can use the BWCD to communicate with the user of anothercommunications device over a telecommunications network.

While embodiments of the invention are described with regard to specificcommunication protocols and standards, such as Bluetooth, those skilledin the art will recognize that embodiments of the invention that areshort range communication enabled may comprise a broad range ofprotocols or standards. Means for short range communication include IEEE802.11, 802.15.1 (Bluetooth and Bluetooth lite), 802.15.4a (Zigbee),802.15.3 (Ultra Wideband), IrDa, near-field communications (NFC), activeradio-frequency identification (active RFID), low power FM, proprietystandards, and other low power wireless transceivers. Accordingly,although the illustrated embodiments teach the present invention by wayof a Bluetooth protocol, this is for purposes of illustration only andnot limitation as all means for short range communication arecontemplated and many are shown immediately above.

In an exemplary embodiment, the Interface can be provided with aBluetooth module to establish a communications link with the BWCD andreceive a Bluetooth signal in accordance with Bluetooth protocol. TheInterface can also be provided with a Low Power RF module to establish acommunications link with a RHAD and transmit low power RF signals to theRHAD. The Interface may also include control logic to execute controlinstructions, a user interface, a CODEC Processor for processingsignals, and a power source.

In another exemplary embodiment, the Interface includes a microphone forreceiving speech from an RHAD user and transmitting associated voicesignals to the BWCD. The Interface can be provided with a housing thatis adapted for placing the Interface a distance from the RHAD, such asmeans for attaching the Interface to the clothing of a user.

The RHAD can include RF Communications Logic for receiving low power RFsignals from the Interface. The RHAD RF Communications Logic is adaptedfor communications with the Interface's Low Power RF CommunicationsLogic. The RHAD can also include a Hearing Assistive Module forreceiving and processing signals in accordance with the hearingdeficiencies of the RHAD user.

The present invention also includes a method for communicating with aHAD. In an exemplary embodiment the method comprises receiving a shortrange communication signal from a wireless communications device at anInterface, extracting an audible signal from the short range signal, andtransmitting the audible signal to the RHAD via a low power RF signal.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a communicationsinterface comprising a first communications module adapted to receive acommunication signal, which itself includes an audible signal, from awireless communications device, and a second communications moduleadapted to receive and provide that audible signal to a hearingassistive device. Here the interface receives the audible signal via afirst communication protocol and sends the audible signal via a secondcommunication protocol. Another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is a hearing assistive device comprising communications logicconfigured to receive a communication signal via a short rangecommunication protocol and hearing assistive circuitry in communicationwith the logic, wherein the circuitry is configured to manipulate thesignal in accordance with the user's hearing criteria. Still anotherexemplary embodiment comprises radio frequency (RF) communications logicadapted to receive a low power RF signal from an interface, and housingadapted to communicatively couple the logic to a hearing assistivedevice.

An exemplary system of the present invention comprises an interface andan RF enabled hearing assistive device. Here, the interface comprises afirst module adapted to receive an audible signal from a wireless deviceand a second module adapted to provide the audible signal to the hearingassistive device via a low power RF signal. Exemplary methods of thepresent invention comprise receiving at an interface a communicationfrom a wireless device, extracting a desired signal from thecommunication at a first module of the interface, and providing thedesired signal to a second module in communication with a hearingassistive device. Here, the communication is received by a first shortrange protocol and the signal is sent by a second short range protocol.Additional exemplary methods comprise receiving a low power RF signalfrom an interface at a hearing assistive device, extracting an audiblesignal from the RF signal, and providing the audible signal to a speakerof a hearing assistive device.

The devices, systems and methods of the invention enable a HAD user tocommunicate using a WCD without undue interference. Interference isreduced by allowing a WCD to be positioned at a distance from a user'sHAD. The magnitude of the low power RF signal used by the Interface totransmit a voice signal to the RHAD is such that it does not produceinterference at the RHAD. Because the Interface also can be provided ata distance from the RHAD, the electromagnetic fields generated by theInterface's power source do not interfere with the RHAD. Furthermore,because the Bluetooth signals between the Interface and the BWCD arefrequency hopped, the interference with the RHAD due to the Bluetoothsignal is negligible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a Hearing Assistive System With Low Power Interface,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a Hearing Assistive System With Low Power Interface,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a Low Power Interface, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a housing of a Low Power Interface, in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an RF-enabled Hearing AssistiveDevice, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyexemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various andalternative forms, and combinations thereof. The figures are notnecessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimizedto show details of particular components. In other instances, well-knowncomponents, systems, materials or methods have not been described indetail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention described herein provide a HearingAssistive Device (HAD) and an Interface that provides a communicationslink between the HAD and a Wireless Communications Device (WCD), therebyallowing communication between a HAD and a WCD without undueinterference. While embodiments of the invention are described withregard to specific communication protocols and standards, such asBluetooth, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments ofthe invention that are short range communication enabled may comprise abroad range of protocols or standards, such as means for short rangecommunication presented above. In the illustrated embodiments the HAD isRF enabled and the WCD is Bluetooth enabled. Similarly, embodimentsinclude a HAD comprising any suitable low power wireless systemconfigured to receive a signal from the Interface. In some embodimentsthe HAD comprises the same short range communication enablement as theWCD.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent likeelements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates a Hearing Assistive System (HAS)100, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The illustrated HAS 100 comprises a Bluetooth-enabledWireless Communications Device (BWCD) 102, an Interface 104, and aRF-enabled Hearing Assistive Device (RHAD) 106.

As shown in FIG. 1, the BWCD 102, which for purposes of teaching and notlimitation is illustrated in the form of a cellular telephone, cancommunicate over a telecommunications network. In this example, the BWCD102 is shown communicating with another communications device 118 over acellular telecommunications network 116. The cellular communicationsnetwork 116 may be connected with other networks such as a PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), the Internet, and other private orpublic networks. The BWCD 102 is Bluetooth-enabled so that it mayestablish communication with other Bluetooth-enabled devices inaccordance with that communication protocol.

The Interface 104 is adapted for establishing a communications link withthe BWCD 102. Here the Interface is Bluetooth-enabled so that it mayestablish a Bluetooth communications link with the BWCD 102 to form apiconet. In the illustrated embodiment the BWCD 102 serves as a masterand the Interface 104 as a slave under the Bluetooth protocol.

The BWCD 102 receives a communication signal 110 from anothercommunication device 118, such as a cellular telecommunications signalreceived during a communication session between the BWCD 102 and thecommunications device 118. Typically the BWCD 102 extracts desiredaudible signals from the cellular communications signal and thosedesired audible signals are output at the speaker of the BWCD. Here,desired or audible signals include all signals intended to be heard bythe user 108, including voice and music. In this case, the voice signalsmay be converted to Bluetooth format and transmitted to the Interface104 via a Bluetooth signal 112. The Interface 104 receives the BluetoothSignal 112 from the BWCD 102 and processes the Bluetooth signal 112 toextract the audible signals.

The Interface 104 then transmits the audible signals to the RHAD 106 viaa low power RF signal 114. A low power RF device operates at a powerlevel much lower than a typical communication device, such as a cellulartelephone, and low power RF signals do not generate interference at theRHAD 106 because of significantly reduced transmit power and/or becauseof the use spread spectrum modulation (CMDA). The low power RF signal114 is received by the RHAD 106 and the audible signals are extracted.The audible signals can be further processed by the RHAD 106 inaccordance with the needs of the RHAD user 108, and then output to theRHAD user 108 at a RHAD speaker. In this way, signals received at theBWCD 102 over the network 116 can be provided to the RHAD 104 by theInterface 106.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Interface 104 can be provided at a distance fromthe RHAD 106, such as at the user's waist, to decrease electromagneticinterference at the RHAD 106 that may result from operation of theInterface 104. That is, by providing the Interface 104 at a distancefrom the RHAD 106, the energy from the Interface's power source does notinterfere with the RHAD 106. In addition, the low power RF signal 114 isof a sufficiently small magnitude so as to not interfere with the RHAD106.

The provision of the audible signals to the RHAD 106 by the low power RFsignal 114 from the Interface 104 eliminates the need of the user 108 tohold the BWCD 102 proximate the RHAD 106. Under this arrangement it isnot necessary that an RF microphone receive output from the BWCDspeaker; rather an RF receiver may receive signals via a low power RFsignal 114. No longer needing to have the BWCD 102 speaker proximate theRHAD 106, the user 108 may move the BWCD 102 a distance away from theRHAD 106, thereby reducing interference. In the case where a user 108desires to provide speech directly to the BWCD 102 using the BWCD'smicrophone, the user 108 holds the BWCD 102 at a position away from theRHAD 108 but near the user's mouth. This position would decrease theinterference generated by the BWCD 102 at the RHAD 106 while stillallowing the BWCD 102 microphone to receive the user's 108 speech.

In alternative embodiments the Interface 104 is provided with amicrophone (not shown) so that the Interface 104 may also receive theuser's speech and transmit voice signals to the BWCD 102 via theBluetooth communications link established between the Interface 104 andthe BWCD 102. In that case, the Interface 104 engages in bidirectionaltransmission of audible signals. In embodiments where the Interface 104includes a microphone for receiving the user's speech, the BWCD 102 canbe moved an even greater distance from the user 108, as permitted by theapplicable short range communication protocol so that the user 108 nolonger needs to be proximate the BWCD speaker or BWCD microphone. Insome embodiments the microphone is located separate from, or integralto, the HAD 106.

Turning to FIG. 2, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of a HAS 100that includes a BWCD 102. The BWCD 102 receives signals 110 from acommunications network 116. In this example, the BWCD 102 is in the formof a Bluetooth-enabled cellular telephone. The BWCD 102 may have anintegrated Bluetooth capability added during manufacture or may beupgraded to contain the Bluetooth capability after manufacture. Theillustrated BWCD 102 has a Bluetooth Communications Module 202 thatincludes circuitry for wirelessly exchanging digitized audible signalswith an external Bluetooth-enabled device, such as described immediatelybelow.

The HAS 100 also includes an Interface 104 for communicating with theBWCD 102. The Interface 104 includes an Interface BluetoothCommunications Module (IBCM) 204 that includes Bluetooth Circuitry forwirelessly exchanging signals with another Bluetooth-enabled device,such as the BWCD 102 substantially in accordance with the Bluetoothspecification. Thus, the IBCM 204 allows the Interface 104 to establisha communications link with the BWCD 102 and receive signals transmittedfrom the BWCD 102 via a Bluetooth signal 112.

The illustrated Interface 104 also includes means for short rangecommunication, such as a Low Power RF Module 206. The Low Power RFModule 206 includes transceiver circuitry for establishing acommunications link with the RHAD 106, and wirelessly exchanging analogor digitized audible signals with the RHAD 106 via a low power RF signal114. The Interface 104 can further include a controller 208 havingcontrol logic for managing and controlling the BCM 204 and the Low PowerRF Module 206.

The HAS 100 may also include a RHAD 106. The illustrated RHAD 106includes means for short range communication, such as a Low Power RFModule 210 having circuitry for establishing a Low Power RFcommunications link with the Interface 104, receiving Low Power RFsignals 114 from the Interface 104, and processing the Low Power RFsignals 114 to extract audible signals. The RHAD 106 may also includehearing assistive circuitry commonly found in hearing assistive devicesfor processing the audible signals in accordance with the hearingimpairments of the user 108. In alternative embodiments, the RHAD 106 isa headset that the user wears on an ear. The RHAD 106 includes a hearingassistive device, means for short range communication, and a microphonefor communicating to the Interface 104 or directly to the wirelesscommunication device 102.

Turning to FIG. 3, there is shown a detailed block diagram of anInterface 104 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of theinvention. As shown in this exemplary embodiment, the Interface 104includes Bluetooth Communications Logic 302, Low Power RF CommunicationsLogic 304, CODEC/Processor Logic 306, a user control interface 308,control logic 310, and a power source 312.

The Bluetooth Communications Logic 302 contains circuitry for wirelesslyexchanging digitized audible signals with the BWCD 102. The BluetoothCommunications Logic 302 can perform encryption and decryption ofaudible signals under the Bluetooth specification for wirelesscommunications. The Bluetooth Communications Logic 302 can include aBluetooth chip or chipset, such as a plurality of integrated circuitsthat may be integrated into one or more modules and may include avariety of components for effectuating Bluetooth capability, such as aprocessor, a clock, a transmitter, a receiver, an antenna, and acontroller.

The CODEC/Processor Logic 306 can include circuitry for performingprocessing functions on incoming transmissions, such as decoding,decryption, error detection, payload extraction and audio decompressionfunctions, and circuitry for performing processing functions on outgoingtransmissions, such as encoding, encryption and audio compressionfunctions. For example, the CODEC/Processor Logic 306 can receive adigitized audible signal from the Bluetooth Communications Logic 302,decode the signal and extract desired voice or music signals. TheCODEC/Processor Logic 306 can then perform processing functions, such asaudio compression, encoding and other functions, on the resultantaudible signal prior to delivery to the Low Power RF CommunicationsLogic 304, and transmission to the RHAD 106.

Although the CODEC Processor Logic 306, the Low Power RF CommunicationsLogic 304, the Bluetooth Communications Logic 302, and the Control Logic310 are shown as separate components, it is contemplated that thefunctions of these devices may be performed by a combination of thedevices into a single unit and that functions discussed as beingperformed by one structure may alternatively be performed by otherstructures. For example, some of the functions discussed as beingperformed by the CODEC Processor Logic 306 may be performed at theBluetooth Communications Logic 302, the Low Power RF CommunicationsLogic 304, or the Control Logic 310, or a combination thereof.

In an embodiment wherein the Interface 104 is provided with an integralor remote microphone 314, the microphone 314 can receive speech from theuser 108 and provide associated voice signals to the CODEC ProcessorLogic 306. The CODEC Processor Logic 306 can then convert the user'svoice signals into an encoded speech format for exchange with theBluetooth Communications Logic 302. The voice signals can then betransmitted by the Bluetooth Communications Logic 302 to the BWCD 102via a Bluetooth signal. If required, the CODEC Processor Logic 306 mayconvert analog signals into digital form before converting them into anencoded speech format. The CODEC Processor Logic 306 can then exchangethe voice signals with the Bluetooth Communications Logic 302, such asby exchanging a bit stream of digitized voice signals with the BluetoothCommunications Logic 302. If data signals are provided, such as in theform of music, the CODEC Processor Logic 306 can perform datacompression and decompression as required.

The Interface 104 also includes Low Power RF Communications Logic 304that contains circuitry for exchanging digitized or analog voice signalsvia a Low Power RF signal 114. The Low Power RF Communications Logic 304can be adapted for communication with a particular type of RHAD 106 andcan be adapted for communication with multiple RHADs 106, such as thecase where a user 108 has a different calibrated RHAD 106 in each ear.In addition to transmitting voice signals to the RHAD 106, the Low PowerCommunications Logic 304 also can transmit and receive other data, suchas control data with the RHAD 106.

The Low Power RF Communications Logic 304 includes circuitry, such as anantenna, an amplifier, a transmitter, and a processor, for performingother functions not performed by the CODEC Processor Logic 306 to readythe signal for transmission to the RHAD 104. The Low Power RFCommunications Logic 304 modulates the signal to an RF carrier,amplifies the signal as required, and transmits the signal by an antennato the RHAD 104. The Low Power RF Communications Logic 304 can include aLow Power RF transmitter and receiver circuitry for bi-directionalcommunication with the RHAD 106, to receive, for example, controlsignals from the RHAD 106 or voice signals from a microphone. Forexample, the Interface 104 may receive control data from the usercontrol interface 308 to configure parameters, such as frequency channeland operational modes for transmitting audible signals to the RHAD 106.

The Bluetooth Communications Logic 302, CODEC Processor Logic 306, LowPower RF Communications Logic 304, microphone 314, and the user controlinterface 308 are connected to and controlled by control logic 310. Thecontrol logic 310 can include a central processing unit (CPU) andmemory, such as flash memory. The user control interface 308 can includebuttons, visual indicators such as light emitting diodes (LED's) andlights, and associated drivers and logic to receive input from the user108 and display status conditions back to the user 108, and generallyprovide an interface between the user 108 and the Interface 104. Forexample, the user control interface 308 may indicate power on-off, andestablishment of communication between the Interface 104 and the BWCD102 or the RHAD 106.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Interface 104 may include a housing 410 withmeans for attaching the Interface 104 to the user's body or clothingsuch as a clip 412, arm band 414, neck loop 416 or cradle (not shown),or the like. In addition, housing 410 may be provided with means forconveniently placing the Interface 104 on a surface near a user 108,such as on the surface of a desk or table.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an RHAD 106. TheRHAD 106 can include a Hearing Assistive Module (HAM) 502 and RHAD RFCommunications Logic (RRCL) 604. The HAM 502 can include components forreceiving and processing signals in accordance with the hearingdeficiencies of the RHAD user 108 and can include components commonlyfound in hearing aids such as a microphone 506, a telecoil 508, anamplifier 510, and a speaker 512 as well as a signal processing circuit514. The RHAD 106 also can include other structures known in the art,such as a power source, power switch, volume control, mode selectbuttons, etc., which are not shown so as not to obscure the invention.

In communication with the RRCL 504 at a direct audio input port 505, isa Low Power RF Module 210, an associated antenna (not shown), and anassociated processor (not shown). The RRCL 604 and RF Module 210 includecircuitry for establishing a communications link with the Low Power RFCommunications Logic 304 of the Interface 104 and receiving andprocessing a Low Power RF signal from the Interface 104, as describedpreviously. Where the RRCL 502 or RF Module 210 provides controlinformation to the Interface 104, the RF Module 210 may also include atransmitter. These structures may be arranged on a printed circuit boardor some other type of circuit that is sized to fit within a hearing aidhousing. Alternatively, the RRCL 504 and RF Module 210 may beincorporated into a separate module or boot that can be attached to ahearing aid housing, such as a behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid.

The processor of the RRCL 502 may perform processing functions onsignals received from Interface 104 such as signal detection,setup/control functions, frequency band, channel selection, powercontrol, modulation, selection, interference and received signalstrength monitoring. If a digital signal is being sent by the Interface104, then the processor can decode the signal. If an analog signal isbeing sent, then the signal may be sent to an analog-to-digitalconverter either within the RRCL 504, or at a converter 516 in thesignal processing circuit 514 of the RHAD 106. The processor may performprocessing functions on the Low Power RF signal 114 received from theInterface 104, such as decompression, decoding, error detection,synchronization, and/or other functions as required.

The HAM 502 includes signal processing logic 514 for receiving andprocessing signals in accordance with the needs of the RHAD user 108.The signal processing circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter516, a processor 518, and a digital-to-analog converter 520. Theprocessor 518 processes signals received from the RRCL 504, or theRHAD's microphone 506 or telecoil 508, in accordance with the hearingdeficiencies of the RHAD user 108. The processed signals are thenprovided to the user 108 through an RHAD speaker 512. The RHAD 106 canbe adapted to operate in different modes such as a microphone, telecoil,and RF modes. For example, the RHAD 106 may be adapted to switch to anRF mode to receive the low power RF signals 114 from the Interface 104upon a polling signal from the Interface 104. In operation, a low powerRF signal 114 is received by an antenna of the RF Module 210 andprocessed to extract the voice signals. The voice signals are thenprovided to the HAM 502 for further processing and the resultant voicesignals output to the RHAD user 108 at the speaker 512.

An example of a method of operation of the invention will now bedescribed. The user 108 makes or receives a phone call with a friendusing the user's BWCD 102 to establish a communication link over acommunications network 116. The friend speaks into his communicationsdevice 118 so that the friend's voice is transmitted over thecommunications network 116 to the user's BWCD 102. The BWCD 102 thenpasses the friend's digitized voice signals to the BluetoothCommunications Logic 302 of the Interface 104 via a Bluetooth signal112, which is just one example of means for short range communication.The Bluetooth Communications Logic 302 passes the digitized voicesignals to the CODEC Processor Logic 306 in a bit stream format. TheCODEC Processor Logic 306 transforms the voice signal bit stream into anencoded voice signal format, decodes the voice signal, and passes it tothe Low Power RF Communications logic 304. The Low Power RFCommunications Logic 304 then converts the voice signal to a formatexpected by the RHAD 106 and transmits the voice signal to the RHAD 106via a Low Power RF carrier signal 114. The RF Module 210 receives theLow Power RF communications signal 114 and the RRCL 504 processes thesignal to extract the voice signal. The voice signal is then sent to theHAM 502 to be processed by the signal processing circuit 514 and outputto the RHAD user 108 at the speaker 512. The user 108 may then respondby speaking into a microphone of the BWCD 102 so that the user's voicesignal is received at the BWCD 102 and transmitted over thecommunications network 116 to the friend's communication device 118.

In an embodiment in which the Interface 102 includes an integral orremote microphone 314, the user 108 may respond by speaking into themicrophone 314 so that the user's voice is received by the microphone314 and sent to the CODEC Processor Logic 306. The CODEC Processor Logic306 processes the voice signal for delivery to the BluetoothCommunications Logic 302 for transmission to the BWCD 102 via aBluetooth signal. The CODEC processor Logic 306 may digitize the voicesignals, create encoded speech, translate the encoded voice signals intoa bit stream representation and send the voice signal to the BluetoothCommunications Logic 302 under the control of the Control Logic 310. TheBluetooth Communications Logic 302 takes the digital voice signals andpasses them wirelessly to the BWCD 102, which transmits the voice signalto the friend's communication device 118 via the wireless network 116.Because many telephones are now manufactured with Bluetooth capabilitymany users would not need to purchase a new telephone to experience theadvantages of the present invention, but could use their currentBluetooth-enabled phone in conjunction with the Interface 104 and RHAD108.

It must be emphasized that the law does not require and it iseconomically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possibleembodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodimentsare merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for aclean understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations,modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-describedembodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All suchvariations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by thescope of this disclosure and the following claims.

1. A communications interface device for receiving an audio signal froma wireless communications device and forwarding the audio signal to ahearing assistive device, the communications interface devicecomprising: a first communications module configured to receive a signaltransmitted using the BLUETOOTH protocol; a second communications moduleconfigured to transmit a signal using a low power RF protocol; and amemory for storing instructions, executable by a processor to make thecommunications interface operable to: extract the audio signal from afirst communication signal received at the first communications module,the first communications module being adapted to receive the firstcommunication signal from the wireless communications device thattransmitted the first communication signal; generate a secondcommunication signal comprising the audio signal; and transmit thesecond communication signal to the hearing assistive device using thesecond communications module.
 2. The communications interface device ofclaim 1, wherein the first communications module communicates with thewireless communication device.
 3. The communications interface device ofclaim 1, wherein the second communications module communicates with thehearing assistive device.
 4. The communications interface device ofclaim 3, wherein the second communications module comprises a low powertransmitter to transmit the second communications signal to the hearingassistive device.
 5. The communications interface device of claim 4,wherein the second communications module further comprises a receiver toreceive control signals from the hearing assistive device.
 6. Thecommunications interface device of claim 1, further comprising acontroller communicatively coupled to the first communications moduleand the second communications module, the controller adapted to controloperations of the first communications module and the secondcommunications module.
 7. The communications interface device of claim6, wherein the controller comprises a CPU and a memory.
 8. Thecommunications interface device of claim 1, further comprising a userinterface, the user interface configured to receive input from a user.9. The communications interface device of claim 1, further comprisingCODEC/Processor Logic to process signals in accordance withpredetermined criteria.
 10. The communications interface device of claim9, wherein the CODEC/Processor Logic comprises a signal extractor toextract the audio signal from the communication signal.
 11. Thecommunications interface device of claim 9, wherein the CODEC/ProcessorLogic comprises an encoder and a decoder.
 12. The communicationsinterface device of claim 9, wherein the CODEC/Processor Logic comprisesan encrypter and decrypter.
 13. The communications interface device ofclaim 9, wherein the CODEC/Processor Logic comprises a signal compressorand decompressor.
 14. The communications interface device of claim 1,further comprising a communicatively coupled microphone for receivingvoice signals from a user.
 15. The communications interface device ofclaim 14, wherein the first communications module transmits the voicesignals to the wireless communications device.
 16. The communicationsinterface device of claim 1, further comprising a housing to house thefirst communications module and the second communications module.
 17. Asystem, comprising: a communications interface device comprising a firstcommunications module communicatively coupled to a second communicationsmodule, wherein: the first communications module is configured toreceive a communication signal from a wireless communications device,the communication signal being transmitted using the BLUETOOTH protocoland comprising an audio signal; and the second communications module isconfigured to provide the audio signal to a hearing assistive device viaa low power RF signal; and an RF-enabled hearing assistive device,comprising RF communications logic adapted to receive the low power RFsignal from the second communications module of the communicationsinterface device.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the firstcommunications module comprises a short range communication moduleadapted to receive a short range communication from the wirelesscommunications device.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein theRF-enabled hearing assistive device further comprises hearing assistivecircuitry to manipulate the audio signal in accordance with definedhearing limitations.
 20. A method, comprising: receiving, at acommunications interface device, a communication transmitted by awireless communications device using the BLUETOOTH protocol; extracting,using a controller of the communications interface device, a desiredsignal from the communication at a first module of the communicationsinterface device; generating, using the controller, a secondcommunications signal comprising the desired signal; and providing thedesired signal to a second module of the communications interfacedevice, for transmission to a hearing assistive device over a low powerRF protocol.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving acommunication from the wireless communications device comprisesreceiving the communication from the wireless communications device viaa first short range communication protocol.
 22. The method of claim 20,wherein providing the desired signal comprises providing the desiredsignal to the second module of the communications interface fortransmission to the hearing assistive device via a second short rangecommunication protocol.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprisingreceiving a user voice signal from a user, via a microphone, at thefirst module.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providingthe user voice signal to the wireless communications device via thefirst short range communication protocol.
 25. The method of claim 20,further comprising processing the desired signal in accordance with userspecific predetermined criteria.